Kvet Forum
Well-known member
Lateral deviation of the head is a common cause of dystocia in cows; the calves are often dead.
Clinical Presentation
Both fore feet are presented in the maternal pelvis (and possibly at the vulva). Occasionally, the cervix may not be fully dilated.
Differential Diagnosis
Farmers often mistake a head back malposture for a calf in posterior presentation because they can feel two limbs, but no head. Note that the hooves face down, not up, and you are able to feel the carpal joints, not the hocks or calf’s tail. The situation is rendered much more difficult if the farmer exerts traction to both forelimbs without correctly aligning the calf ’s head.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by careful vaginal examination under extradural anaesthesia.
Management
Correction of the malposture is not easy, especially when the calf is dead, the head is averted against the chest and the uterus is contracted down around the calf.
Under extradural anaesthesia, the calf ’s forelimbs and neck are carefully repelled as far as possible. A finger or eye hook can be placed in an eye socket in an attempt to pull the head around into the pelvic inlet. Alternatively, an eye hook can be placed between the horizontal rami of the mandible or a leg rope placed around the calf ’s lower jaw.
Once corrected, a head rope is placed behind the calf ’s poll and through its mouth to assist alignment into the pelvic inlet, especially if the cervix is not fully dilated and the calf is dead. The calf is then delivered by traction. In the case of a dead calf it is possible to decapitate the averted head where the neck is kinked using an embryotome, but this is not a simple procedure and is not recommended unless the operator has had enough experience with the technique.
Prevention requires recognition that second-stage labour has not progressed, followed by timely intervention.
Clinical Presentation
Both fore feet are presented in the maternal pelvis (and possibly at the vulva). Occasionally, the cervix may not be fully dilated.
Differential Diagnosis
Farmers often mistake a head back malposture for a calf in posterior presentation because they can feel two limbs, but no head. Note that the hooves face down, not up, and you are able to feel the carpal joints, not the hocks or calf’s tail. The situation is rendered much more difficult if the farmer exerts traction to both forelimbs without correctly aligning the calf ’s head.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by careful vaginal examination under extradural anaesthesia.
Management
Correction of the malposture is not easy, especially when the calf is dead, the head is averted against the chest and the uterus is contracted down around the calf.
Under extradural anaesthesia, the calf ’s forelimbs and neck are carefully repelled as far as possible. A finger or eye hook can be placed in an eye socket in an attempt to pull the head around into the pelvic inlet. Alternatively, an eye hook can be placed between the horizontal rami of the mandible or a leg rope placed around the calf ’s lower jaw.
Once corrected, a head rope is placed behind the calf ’s poll and through its mouth to assist alignment into the pelvic inlet, especially if the cervix is not fully dilated and the calf is dead. The calf is then delivered by traction. In the case of a dead calf it is possible to decapitate the averted head where the neck is kinked using an embryotome, but this is not a simple procedure and is not recommended unless the operator has had enough experience with the technique.
Prevention requires recognition that second-stage labour has not progressed, followed by timely intervention.